Yang
Every Yang since 1981 — 338 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Yang
Yang is not currently in use for newborns in the United States — fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.
Since 1981, 338 American babies have been named Yang — about 86% boys and 14% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1988, when 21 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1980s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Yang stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Yang year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | — | — |
| 2024 | — | — | 6 | #12,292 |
| 2023 | — | — | — | — |
| 2022 | — | — | — | — |
| 2021 | — | — | — | — |
| 2020 | — | — | — | — |
| 2019 | — | — | 7 | #10,765 |
| 2018 | — | — | 10 | #8,131 |
| 2017 | — | — | — | — |
| 2016 | — | — | — | — |
| 2015 | — | — | 12 | #7,047 |
| 2014 | — | — | 11 | #7,535 |
| 2013 | — | — | 5 | #13,989 |
| 2012 | 5 | #19,424 | 8 | #9,679 |
| 2011 | — | — | — | — |
| 2010 | — | — | 9 | #8,764 |
| 2009 | — | — | — | — |
| 2008 | — | — | — | — |
| 2007 | — | — | 6 | #12,308 |
| 2006 | — | — | — | — |
| 2005 | — | — | — | — |
| 2004 | — | — | 5 | #13,160 |
| 2003 | — | — | 10 | #7,228 |
| 2002 | — | — | 7 | #9,367 |
| 2001 | — | — | 9 | #7,513 |
| 2000 | — | — | 5 | #12,077 |
| 1995 | — | — | 10 | #5,915 |
| 1990 | — | — | 21 | #3,056 |
| 1985 | 6 | #10,660 | 5 | #7,560 |
| 1980 | — | — | — | — |
| 1975 | — | — | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Yang
- Yang Guifei Politician · 719–756
- Yang Shangkun Politician · 1907–1998
- Yang Chen-Ning Physicist · b. 1922
- Yang You Politician · b. 605
- Yang Zhu Philosopher · -369–-318
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Yang in 2025?
Yang did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.
How many people are named Yang?
338 babies have been named Yang in the United States since 1981, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Yang most popular?
Yang peaked in 1988, when 21 newborns received the name.
Is Yang a boy or girl name?
Yang is used for both: about 14% of babies named Yang have been girls and 86% boys.
Is the name Yang rising or falling?
Yang is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Yang?
Well-known people named Yang include Yang Guifei (politician), Yang Shangkun (politician), Yang Chen-Ning (physicist).